Automatic sprinkler



Jam 29, 1924.. V 1,482,260-

A. c. ROWLEY AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed April 26. 1923 Patented Jan. 29,1924.

STATE- ARTHUR G. ROWLEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS$IGNOB T GLOBEAUTOMATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR-PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER- Application filed April 2c, 1923. Serial No.634,901.

' an Automatic Sprinkler, of which the following is a specification.

()ne object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple andefiicient form of sprinkler head which while possessing all theadvantages inherent in both the lever and diaphragm types of heads,shall-be free of their objectional features, andthe invention moreespecially contemplates the provlsion of a sprinkler head which shall becompact, substantial and certain in action, and which shallinclude suchanarrangement' of parts that when subjected to a predeterminedtemperature, itrwill'ce'rtainly separateinto its several piecesso as torelease its valve and permit delivery-of water.

Another object of my inventionis to provide a novel form of .fusibleortemperature responsive link of the compression type Y which shallinclude novelmeans for insurz5 ing the completeand'instan'taneoussepara- 7 tion of its elements when, these are subjectedto'more than a predetermined degree of heat. a

These objects and other advantageous ends Iattain as hereinaftersetforth, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in

which, i t t Fig. 1 is a front elevation of asprinkler ihead embodyingmy invention;

8 Fig. is a vertical'sectionfon. the line 22,

v Fig. 1;

f Fig. 3 is a vertical section on a larger scale than Fig; 2,illustrating in detail the construction and arrangement of parts of thefusible link forming part of my invention; V Figs. 4

two main plates of my fusible link; i

Fig, 6 is a perspective view of the platecontrolling key;

Fig. 7 1s a perspective view of the keycontrolling element; p

Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the spring; and,

Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views respectively of the valve and valvewasher used for normally closing the outlet of my sprinkler head.

In the above drawings, 1 represents a and 5 areperspective views of theV threaded nipple having an outlet designed for the reception of awasher 2, with a valve 3 and having integral yoke 1. The latter in thecenter line of the nipple 1 has threaded into it a screw 5 carrying awater spreader 6 and designed to have confined between its inner'end andthe valve a fusible link hereinafter described.

In accordance with my invention, this link includes a pair ofsubstantially flat parallel plates 7 and 8, of which the latter has itsupper end 9 over-hung and preferably provided w1th a depression 10 forthe reception for the suitably formed inner end of the screw 5. Theupper end of the plate 7 is preferably formed with asomewhatsharpenededge designed to fit under the over hanglng portion 9in the plate 8, so as to engage the same between its face and a linedrawn parallel with said face through the center of the recess '10.

Between the top face of the valve 3 and lower end of the (plate 7, Imount a Ushaped spring 11 the en of Whose arms are preferably formedwith notches or recesses 12 for the reception of lateral extensions 13con stituting trunnions at the ends of the top edge of the plate 7 Forsuitably positioning the plate 7 and spring 11 on the'valve 3, the lowerend of said plate preferably has a projection 14, while the center ofthe bottom of the spring 11 is provided with a recess 15 for saidprojection, the middle of said spring being projected in line with saidrecess to enter a depression 16 in the center of the top face of thevalve 3.

The plates 7 and 8 are formed with longitudinally extending alignedslots respectively indicated at 17 and 18 for the reception of a flatkey 19 andsaid slots are of such dimensions and are relatively so placedthat their lower ends are at cliiferent levels or are out of alignmentas shown in Fig. 3. The lower edge of the key 19 is preferably steppedor offset as indicated at 20 so that its flat surfaces lie parallel withand so engage the flat ends of theslots that a swinging movement of thekey out of said slots is impossible without a corresponding upwardmovement of said keylongitudinally of the slots.

For normally preventing or resisting such an upward movement of the keyin the slots 17 and 18, I transversely recess the adjacent faces oit':theplates Iand S for the reception of a key-controllingelement in theform of a roller 21 (Fig. 7) so mounted as to intersect the i-ipperportions of the slots 17 and 18 and lie Within anotch 22 in the top edgeof the key 19.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the two plates 7 and8 with the key 19 and key-controlling element 21 are 10 all sweated orsoldered together with a suit able metal I or alloy, ol, suchcomposition as tolg fuse when ,lieated to a relatively low degree, forexample 165? 4 Under normal conditions, however, thismet'al -firmlybinds together inparallel relationthe two plates '7 and,8,. maintainsthe element 21 in posisaid element in holding thekeyh19 in'the positi,onshown in ,Fig. 3 so that it cannot @fusible link formed, by these flourmembers nay be mtrodueed between the spr ng ll and the inner orpointedend otthe screw 25,eausedmo ententhe notches ,12 of the arms..,ol;;,tl1e spring, wh le, said ser ew. 1s .set up SO..tl18it;ltSg1DI1(-3I end enters the depression "1 of the li letefi e5; Pl sd? si s hinde ,com res n h h winef t lat e Pro" 30. .-jee t-ing 1,0werend 161 oi the plate? 1s toreed' into the depression 15 ofsaich epi ingfflhe latter, as'preyionsly. indioatecl and as shown in 3, isseatedcentrally of the top of fthie valve 3 and is,iioted that its armsw th 36tl1e two plates T and S lie in',or parallel .with theplane of .theyoke{While the I keyf, .-19 iextends ,trai sversely pl this plane,

' it projects butlittle anybeyoiid theplanes defined, by the side edgesof the spring.

40 Obviously when i the parts are. assembled ,asebov e described, notonly 'thespring 11 but also thetusible l nk as a whole i's under stress;At, the same; time the various parts ,under normal, conditionsretaintheirgiven relativepositions against air, or water pressureexerted upon the valve 3 from the pipsystem to which tliejni'pple 1' iseon- .nected. 1f, however, the-' tmperature of the Q i'usible link or ofthe atmosphere in its vicinity rises above 165*? or exc eeds whatveverother temperature is required to fuse the metal connecting the parts ofsaid link, the plate8 fulcrums on the top edge of the plate 7, when thefusible metal conneeting ,,it.,with ,said ,secondplate is melted. Theoutward, swinging of I said plate 8, while noifmally prevented bythe key19, is now ,.possiblefsincethe melting of the fusible metal allows, thekey-controlling element 60,21 to.move or be forced ,llpwardly betweenthe plates 7 and 8, by reason of 'thejorce exerted upon it by the key19, which tends to move upward ow' ing to the. tendency of theplates 'Zand 8 to separate. ".The separation of the plates 7 and 8 is stillfurther valve. A a consequence of the above action,

tion between, said plates and eoacts with I element in the former aplateext'ending I a plane'atright aiiglestii said first mentioned plate;and a key normally" held'by said element nrpositioniorevent'frdanormally engaging the k'ey'to holdjit in key having t ppedferpio -erfgagingthe "plates; an elemenflntirmally li'olding the key w thits stepped portion in positionto accelerated and is made certain' bythe action of the spring "11, which" is now tree "to forcibly move theplate 7 upon whose trunnions 18 it acts so that this is raised awayfronithe the fusing of the metal connecting the parts of the link results inwhat is practically an instantaneous and forcible separation or" theparts of the latter and the unseating oil the valve 3 with its washer 2,so that air or water under pressure within the system of, which thesprinkler fol-me apart, is allowed to escape'tlirough theinipplef 1. By

reason o-l-fthe above noted forcible separati'on ot theparts of'thcfusible link thereiisfno possibility of their being held in partiallyreleased or separated position by i'ea'sonot the sudden pooling ot thetusibleinetal by water escapind from thenipple; siiice the construot iono'I'the parts of the'link as Well as: the spring 11 insures "the certainand ,-l'.p.'..':. "we

rap d action 01 the spr nkler head whenever I I Iandasfsoon astemperature in its vicin- 5, and the vtrumnons .13 of lts plate 7 areity', ri ses to or above"tl1e predetermined p' 'int I'c1aim a II 1. Afiisible "link comprising twoplates; a key extendingthrongh"said/plates;fij'lliQIltrolling element mounted between the plates to normallypreventdnovementfo't the'fkey; and fusible material bin'dingf to -ethersaid plates, key, andfcontrolllin g'element.

2. A fusible linkfedmprising two plates fulcrumed one upon' the other ,acontrolling tive movement of the plates; with relatively fusiblematerial normally binding said parts I together. i

3. A fusible link coinpi ising'- two slotted plates; a key extendingthrough thef fslots ofsaid plates; an element between the platesposition to prevent relative movementof the plates; andrelativelyfusible material separablyconnecting said parts. I

' 4. A fuible 11111; comprisingtwoplates;

prevent'movezrient of theplates and'i'fiisible material s'e'para'blyconnecting the plates.

5'. A fusible link' comprising t'wo"plates; a key having a steppedportion engagingthe plates; an elongated elementbetween the I platesnormally, preventing movement ofthe key; and fusible material separablyconnecting said parts. v

said portion; an elongated element mounted between the' plates, andakeyextending D0 through the plates and normally maintained by saidelement in position to prevent their relative movement; with relativelyfusible material separably connecting the plates, key and element.

7. The combination in a fusible link of two slotted links fulcrumed oneon the other;

a key extending through the slots of said plates and having an edgeportion engaging adjacent ends of said slots to normally preventrelative movement of the plates; an elongated member mounted between theplates and positioned to normally prevent movement of the key; andfusible material separably connecting said parts.

the outlet of said nipple; a fusible link having trunnions; and springoperative on the trunnions of the fusible link tending to release thevalve.

10. Thecombination in a sprinkler head of a nipple; a yoke; a valveclosing the outlet of the nipple; a U-shaped spring operative on thevalve; with a fusible link confined between the yoke and the springandincluding trunnions engaged by the arms of said spring.

11. The combination in a sprinkler head of a nipple; a yoke; a valvenormally closing the outlet of the nipple; U-shaped spring mounted onthe valve; a fusible link confined between the yoke and the spring andincluding projecting portions acted on by the spring, said linkcomprising two parallel plates fulcrumed one upon the other; a keynormally preventing relative movement of the plates; and fusiblematerial normally binding together said ke and plates.

. ART R C. ROWLEY.

